Friday 28th May and week
We met for the first time what seemed ages. The Swifts seemed happy in the skies above, occasionally we would see small screaming parties on the chase.
We checked out the Post Office building but never saw any Swifts going into the old established nest site, but what we did see was quite unbelievable with two Jackdaws at the same time going into the nest site which the Swifts normally use. That hole must be big!
We stood at the bottom of Cocking Yard and as soon as we arrived a pair of Swifts came hurstling down the yard with haste, it was obvious there was plenty of activity. Jane has already been able to confirm nesting taking place again at the Hangings Farm site and that will make it every year since 2013 to our knowledge.
We left there and stood to the rear of the Royal and close to the new development. Lots of aerial activity, but high and although the Swifts dipped down and approached nest sites they never took any up whilst we were watching. It is thought that at least 3 nest are being used on the rear of the Royal. One on the annexe, one on the return of the annexe and one on the main Royal building to the far left hand side. We are not aware of any of the new sites having been taken up as yet.
We stood for a short time to the front of the Royal Cottage and although there were birds low and noisy but seemed to turn away at the moment of reaching the scaffold. We did not see any enter the sites. Although one was recorded going into the front of the Royal cottage before they put the scaffold up.
Last check of the evening was looking over to the Coaching House and the Manor House. We saw no activity on the Coaching House, but lots of activity on the Manor House. A bird was seen entering a long established nest site on the gable end at about 3/4 way up on the front side. Also another was seen to enter and leave at the large hole on the gable to the bottom front corner (the one the Starling normally defends), Also we had another one confirmed on the front of the Manor House to the immediate left hand of the drainpipe on the front elevation. Plus lots of false attempts were made to the annexe building about one foot away at the gutter level from were it joins to the main building, we do think that nesting could well be going on here. Also lots of "banging" going on and we do think that this could have involved several maybe immature birds.
The main count of seeing birds together would be 11 has seen whilst we were at the Royal, but its more than probable that we do have about 20 birds presently in the skies over Burton. There seemed to be about 6 birds clinging to the Manor House areas, 11 over the Royal areas as best we could count.
Present: Branwyn, Hugh and Sue, Mary, Bryan.
Our next meeting will be on Friday next 4th June 2021 at the Memorial Hall meeting up at 8pm. Everyone welcome.